Why is my tree dropping leaves in Spring?

Post date: May 27th, 2016

We often field questions about trees losing a large number of leaves in the early springtime. More often than not, they are referring to either London Plane (Platanus) or Evergreen Pear (Pyrus kawakamii) trees. These species are both susceptible to common fungal diseases, which may cause partial defoliation in the early spring. These types of infections usually happen in the early spring due to high precipitation amounts and increased humidity.

Anthracnose

The leaf drop in Platanus trees is caused by anthracnose. Anthracnose is not a single disease, but rather a group of diseases that result in multiple types of damage to ornamental and agricultural crops. Anthracnose infections can result in leaf drop, twig/branch dieback, or even the development of cankers. To learn more, please visit:

Leaf spot is a fungal disease that infects a large number of ornamental and agricultural species in the Rose family. Leaf spot begins as tiny red spots that darken and enlarge over time. Eventually, infected plants will drop some or all of their leaves. To learn more, please visit:

Both of these fungal diseases are inevitable in our area of the world. The best way to protect your trees from these diseases is through systemic treatments. To learn more about assessing the health of your trees, available treatments, and to schedule an appointment with our arborist, call us today at 510-562-4000.